Collins: Ajax draw will do Bhoys wonders

Ronnie Esplin
– 19 September 2015 02:30 AM

John Collins

Assistant boss John Collins believes Celtic's 2-2 draw against Ajax in Amsterdam on Thursday night has done "wonders" for the players' confidence.

The Hoops went into their Europa League Group A opener against the Dutch side looking fragile after losing their lead at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership to Aberdeen and under some pressure having dropped out of the Champions League at the play-off stage against Malmo.

However, Ronny Deila's men put in an assured display in the Amsterdam ArenA, leading 2-1 with goals from midfielder Nir Bitton and right-back Mikael Lustig before Emilio Izaguirre was sent off for picking up the second of two yellow cards and Ajax sub Lasse Schone equalised. Ahead of the home league game against Dundee tomorrow, Collins expressed his delight at getting back on track.

The former Celtic midfielder said: "I was very happy. I thought we bounced back well. It does wonders, a good performance and good result.

"That's what brings back the confidence.

"I think maybe a little bit of confidence had dropped a little bit. But as the game went on I think you could see the confidence coming back into the players and there were a lot of very good performances against a very good team.

"We got the balance right defensively and as the game went on I thought we grew into it, our passing got better and we created chances away from home. Overall, very pleased."